The interviewer needs to know about your managerial talents and skills, but also whether you are a realist. No workplace is ever free of conflict, and any type of Utopian response will be seen as slightly delusional.

Sample Response:

I have two steps that I take when first dealing with conflict. The first thing I do is disengage my emotional response, allowing for clear, rationale thinking and logic. The second step I take is to address the source of the conflict as openly, honestly and directly as possible. In a matter regarding a personal property issue, I benefitted from taking “time off” to cool down and clearly list my concerns. I then requested some time with the individual involved, clearly stating what it was that I wanted to discuss. By referring to this list when working out a compromise, I was able to disengage my emotional processing. The two of us then also had a working document to refer to in seeking a resolution to our situation.

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